Max Verstappen and Red Bull has confirmed change in his race number from 2026 F1 season, as he starts afresh after losing the world championship to Lando Norris.
Since Red Bull’s Verstappen can’t use #1 anymore, which McLaren’s Norris will, the Dutchman has decided to change his race number all together. Instead of returning to #33 which he used between 2015 and 2021, he will use #3 as his race number from 2026 F1 season onward.
The #3 was previously used by his good friend Daniel Ricciardo. The Dutchman always wanted to use the #3, but since the Australian was using it, he opted to go for #33. Now that Ricciardo is no longer competing, Verstappen has taken up the opportunity to use #3.
Considering that Ricciardo last used it in 2024, ideally the number couldn’t be used until the start of 2027 F1 season. But the Australian forfeited his number after writing to the FIA, which allowed Verstappen to take up the number a year before it could be used by all.
Verstappen’s team confirmed that Ricciardo cooperated to make things easier. The FIA recently allowed the rule of changing race number from 2026 onward, where a driver can request to change his number anytime he wishes to, provided it is done before the publication of the entry list.
“It won’t be number 33,” said Verstappen in an interview to Viaplay. “My favourite number has always been 3, apart from number 1. We can now swap, so it’ll be number 3. Number 33 was always fine, but I just like one 3 better than two. I always said it represented double luck, but I’ve already had my luck in Formula 1.”
Apart from Verstappen’s #3, there will be a new number with Visa Cash App RB’s Arvid Lindblad likely to take up #41, which hasn’t been used up by anyone. The #22 will not be used due to Yuki Tsunoda’s exit, while #11 and #77 will return at Cadillac due to the return of Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas.
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Here’s Yuki Tsunoda on situation with Red Bull
